“Kya Ho Gaya?” Paresh Rawal breaks silence on Akshay Kumar comment of 'not being a friend'

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal recently found himself at the center of a social media frenzy after a remark he made during a long-form interview with Lallantop went viral. The actor’s comment on his equation with Akshay Kumar triggered speculation, especially as fans interpreted his statement as a possible rift between the two.

In the interview, when asked whether Akshay Kumar was a friend, Paresh explained that in the film industry, one tends to have colleagues rather than deep friendships, unlike the bonds formed in school or theatre. The statement set off a wave of online chatter, with many questioning if everything was well between the two frequent co-stars.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama about the reaction, Paresh Rawal expressed frustration, admitting he was mentally exhausted by the overreaction. He clarified that he simply meant Akshay is a professional associate. According to him, true friendship involves regular meetups and frequent conversations, something that doesn’t happen between them, not due to animosity but because both lead largely private lives. He emphasized that since neither of them is socially active, it’s unlikely for them to run into each other at gatherings.

Paresh also said there was no underlying issue, dismissing the speculation as unwarranted. He pointed out that just two months ago, he had praised Akshay Kumar at length during another interview. Referring to that, he stated that he was merely illustrating the nature of relationships across different phases of life, such as school or theatre, and how they differ from professional connections in cinema.

When asked if Akshay had responded to the viral interview, Paresh stated that Akshay hadn’t seen it, but described him as someone who remains unaffected by such things. He mentioned that they have done 15-20 films together and that Akshay is a reliable collaborator.

Currently, the two actors are working together on three upcoming films, including Hera Pheri 3, Welcome To The Jungle, and Bhooth Bangla. Paresh concluded by saying he would now be extra cautious while speaking publicly, as misinterpretations had become too common.